Pacheco says that changing the State-owned Companies Law is not a solution and criticizes the creation of a CPI

Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) criticized the possibility of amending the State-Owned Companies Law as a way to increase control over Petrobras and thus contain the rise in fuel prices.

Pacheco said it doesn’t look like this is “a solution to the problem we face today.”

The Minas Gerais senator also stated that proposals for aid for some categories, such as truck drivers, in addition to an expanded payment of the Gas Aid, should be included in the PEC (proposed amendment to the Constitution) on Fuels, which is being processed by the House. Pacheco said it would be a “welcome initiative”.

Earlier, the president of the Senate had criticized the possibility of installing a CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) by Petrobras, adding that there is “not the slightest reasonableness” for a commission for this purpose at the moment.

The president of the Senate gave an interview after a meeting with the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), the minister Ciro Nogueira (Casa Civil), the attorney general of the Union Bruno Bianco and the special secretary of the Ministry of Economy Daniella Marques.

The meeting dealt with measures to contain the price of fuel. Pacheco, again, contradicted the position of Lira, who had defended that the government act more through provisional measures, including to amend the Law on State-Owned Companies.

“I cannot be reticent to any type of initiative that has good merit. But it does not seem to me that it is the solution, in the face of a casuistic, circumstantial problem, due to a war [da Ucrânia]the increase in fuel prices, there is a change in a law conceived within criteria to have rules in relation to state-owned companies, to reduce political interference and give more governance to these companies”.

“It seems to me that this is not necessarily a solution to the problem we face today. But, obviously, we are going to listen to the ideas that will be materialized, whether in a bill or in a provisional measure, I don’t want to make a statement here without there being a proposal materialized”, added the senator.

Regarding the expansion of Auxílio Gás and the creation of a valley for truck drivers, Pacheco considered that an assessment is necessary as to whether there would be any fences, due to the proximity of the electoral period.

“This depends on a very accurate study by the Senate consultancy, together with the senators, especially with the rapporteur. The Attorney General’s Office was willing to carry out a study in this sense, so that an initiative that can reach sectors that have been sacrificed at that moment, it would be a welcome initiative, as long as it is sustainable, as long as it is possible from a legal point of view, due to the elections”, he said.

Pacheco said the proposal should be voted on next week, to allow time for a more detailed analysis.

As he had done last week, the president of the Senate demanded alternatives from the government and criticized the Union’s attempt to dissociate itself from the fuel problem, placing the responsibility on Petrobras. And he again defended the use of dividends from the state-owned company to fuel a stabilization account.

“The government has to understand that there is no dichotomy between Petrobras and the government, because, in fact, it is the government that chooses the council, consequently its board, defines its president. The Union is the main shareholder of Petrobras, [ao ponto] of having control of Petrobras, so in fact this dichotomy is non-existent. There must be a joint effort to understand how far we can go to be able to contain the increase in fuel prices,” he said.

“The stabilization account seems to me to be a smart measure, better than any kind of interference in governance, any kind of law and rule change now regarding state-owned companies. So it seems to me that the main focus of the government should be the stabilization account. “, he added.

Senate President criticizes CPI

This Tuesday morning (21), the president of the Senate participated, along with other senators, in a breakfast with the president of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), Minister Luiz Fux. Upon leaving the place, the Minas Gerais senator was asked about his position regarding the installation of a CPI to investigate Petrobras.

Pacheco initially said that it was a matter for the Chamber of Deputies. However, in the aftermath, he gave his contrary opinion to the commission.

“It was not even for me to give an opinion on initiatives by the Chamber of Deputies itself. But I, particularly, on a CPI concept for such a case, obviously am not in favor. I think there are other measures, including those of a legislative and executive nature, that are much more useful to solve the problem than a CPI,” he said.